Cadillac Electric Vehicle Is Coming The ELR

You guys know that I fell in love with the Converj when I saw it at the New York Auto show a few years back. Today Cadillac announced they are going to build it or something similar and it will be called the Cadillac ELR.

Cadillac ELR Photo Courtesy of GM

The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a dramatic luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

DETROIT – The innovative Cadillac Converj Concept, a dramatic luxury coupe with extended-range electric vehicle technology, is moving forward as a production car that will be called the Cadillac ELR.

Development of the ELR is just underway, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery’s energy is low, the ELR seamlessly switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles.

“The concept generated instant enthusiasm,” said Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing. “Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.”

Cadillac selected the name ELR to indicate the car’s electric propulsion technology, in keeping with the brand’s 3-letter international model naming convention.

The Converj Concept sparked the idea of combining the desirability of a grand touring coupe with electrification, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.

“There’s no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2,” Welburn said.

Cadillac will reveal another new concept car on Thursday, Aug. 18, at a special event prior to the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Cadillac also recently announced it will add two new vehicles to its product lineup in 2012, the XTS large luxury sedan and an all-new luxury compact sedan codenamed ATS.

I would love to hear your thoughts? Leave a comment below or chime in over on the forum

You can help the club by sharing this post using the social media buttons below. You will be helping the club find more like minded readers – thanks Vinny

Comments

I would love to see Cadillac lead the innovative American auto market again like they have done so many times before. If this concept vehicle looks and performs close to what is dreamed up originally, I believe Cadillac will once again be the enginuative bench mark. I have owned Cadillacs sinse I was 15 with my first one being a 68 Coupe deville that I still own today. With raw torque and horsepower that I love so much from the big block caddy power plant and never owning a hybrid, I would buy one without hesitation! Keep up the great work Vinny!

GM said Wednesday that it will go forward with plans to build a production model of an electric Cadillac luxury coupe.The Converj Concept which was first presented at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show will be called the Cadillac ELR.The Cadillac ELR will be GMs luxury version of the Volt. The concept generated instant enthusiasm Vice President-Cadillac Marketing Don Butler said. Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past the ELR will offer something not otherwise present — the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving. The vehicle which is currently in development will be powered by a lithium-ion battery an electric drive unit and a four-cylinder engine-generator similar to the Chevy Volt.